Some in pink, some in brightly-coloured wigs, and all braving torrential rain, breast cancer survivors and their supporters took to the waters of Lake Burley Griffin in dragon boats – a bit of fun for a life-and-death cause.

Dragons Abreast Canberra held its annual Social and Corporate Regatta last Saturday to raise awareness for breast cancer and breast cancer screening, and to support its members to participate in dragon boating – a sport that reduces the risks of lymphoedema, often a side-effect of treatment.

This was the first time the Regatta had been held since 2019.

“It’s such an important thing for us as a community to get back out on the water with our corporate supporters,” Regatta co-ordinator Jeannie Cotterell said.

This year, more than 20,600 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer, according to Cancer Australia: more than 200 men and more than 20,400 women. 3,000 people will die from breast cancer, predominantly women.

The Regatta, Ms Cotterell said, brings a face to breast cancer statistics, and encourages the public to get screened for breast cancer.

On the day, social groups and corporate supporters enter a novice dragon boating team to raise funds.

This year, the Canberra Institute of Technology; the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; the Department of Finance; the Department of Health and Aged Care; Department of Industry, Science and Resources; the Department of Social Services Social Club; the Doma Group; Geodetica; KPMG; the National Indigenous Australians Agency; and the Nous Group took part.

“Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do it,” Ms Cotterell said. She was impressed by their commitment to joining the club in the rain. “Everyone was smiling and enjoying themselves, and really having the time of their lives, even though it was not the best conditions.”

The Regatta has a different theme each year; this time, it was circus-themed. Some attendees wore rainbow-coloured shock wigs, others painted their faces like clowns.

“We decided that we all needed a bit of colour and fun in our lives,” Ms Cotterell said.

The corporate teams’ costumes, she remarked, were spectacular.

The Regatta raised an estimated $7,000. That money, Ms Cotterell said, will allow members who are having financial difficulties due to the cost of treatment to still participate in dragon boating. While the club provides all the safety equipment (personal flotation devices, paddles, and the like), each member must pay a few hundred dollars each year to Dragon Boat ACT for insurance and overhead costs of the Grevillea Park dragon boat facility.

Dragon boating prevents women treated for breast cancer from getting lymphedema (tissue swelling in the arms and legs), and keeps them healthier and happier.

The Dragons Abreast movement began in Canada in 1996, when exercise physiologist Dr Don McKenzie trialled the sport’s benefits, flying in the face of the prevalent belief that women who had mastectomies should not do upper body exercise because it might exacerbate the risk of lymphedema. He proved that keeping the upper body moving reduced the risks of lymphedema.

Canberra’s is the second oldest Dragons Abreast club in Australia; it began in 1999. Its members have competed throughout and internationally.

“It gives us a place to go,” Ms Cotterell said. “It’s a sporting support group. It’s a social opportunity where we’re moving and we’re active, but we’re also with a group of people who understand where we’ve been, and where we’re going, and the difficulties and joys and sadnesses of living with or surviving breast cancer.”

Ms Cotterell urged the public to get checked for breast cancer.

“Early detection saves lives,” she said. “If there is anything that makes you uncomfortable, go and get it checked out, because we want to keep the survival rate from this awful disease really high.”

BreastScreen ACT provides free mammograms for women over 40.

“Don’t skip the mammogram this year because you’re too busy,” Ms Cotterell said. “Go and get checked.”

Breast cancer survivors and their supporters interested in trying dragon boating can join Dragons Abreast Canberra at their next ‘Come and Try’ session on Saturday 12 November at 9am. The first month is free. Contact them at [email protected] for more information.

Ms Cotterell thanked the volunteers from Dragon Boat ACT clubs who gave their time as race officials, boat loaders, drummers, sweeps/steerers and all the other important roles that make a dragon boat regatta possible, and the local businesses that donated to make the day safe and comfortable.

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